Josiane Balasko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Josiane Balasko
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![]() Balasko in 2014
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Born |
Josiane Balašković
15 April 1950 Paris, France
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Occupation | Actress, comedian, director, writer |
Years active | 1973–present |
Spouse(s) | |
Partner(s) | Bruno Moynot (1974–1981) Philippe Berry (1982–1999) |
Children | 2, including Marilou Berry |
Relatives |
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Awards | César Award for Best Writing 1996 French Twist Honorary César 2000 Lifetime Achievement |
Josiane Balasko (born Josiane Balašković; 15 April 1950) is a famous French actress, writer, and director. She has been nominated seven times for the important César Awards (which are like the French Oscars!) and has won twice. She is known for her funny roles and for directing her own movies.
Contents
Josiane Balasko's Acting Journey
Josiane Balasko has had a long and exciting career in movies and theater. She is well-known for her many different roles, from comedies to more serious films.
Starting Out: 1970s and 1980s
Josiane Balasko began her acting career in 1973 when she was 23 years old. Her first appearance was in a short film called L'Agression. Soon after, she appeared in the movie L'an 01. In 1976, she was in the film The Tenant, directed by Roman Polanski.
The year 1977 was a very busy one for Josiane, as she appeared in seven films! She played Simone in "Une fille unique" and had a role in Animal, which was a big hit in France. She also appeared in Pardon Mon Affaire, Too!, another successful movie. She played Nadine in This Sweet Sickness and also acted in Monsieur Papa. She even had a small, uncredited role in the popular Disney movie Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, which was a huge success worldwide.
In 1978, Josiane continued to act in comedies like "Si vous n'aimez pas ça, n'en dégoûtez pas les autres" and "Les Petits Câlins". She took on a main role in the comedy "Pauline et l'Ordinateur", where she also helped write the dialogue. A very important role for her was Nathalie Morin in the popular comedy Les Bronzés. This movie became a cult film, meaning it was very popular and had a dedicated fan base.
In 1979, she played Nathalie Morin again in the sequel, Les Bronzés font du ski, which was also a success.
Directing and More Success: 1980s and 1990s

The 1980s were very successful for Josiane Balasko. In 1981, she starred in the hit comedy Men Prefer Fat Girls, which she also helped write. She then appeared in Le Maître d'école, another popular film, and Hotel America.
In 1982, she was in another cult movie, Santa Claus Is a Stinker. In 1983, she had two more comedy hits: Gramps Is in the Resistance and Signes extérieurs de richesse.
Josiane Balasko made her debut as a director in 1985 with the comedy Sac de noeuds. She not only directed it but also wrote and starred in it! This marked a new chapter in her career, showing her talent behind the camera as well.
One of Josiane Balasko's most famous roles for people who speak English was in the 1995 film French Twist. She played a lesbian character in this comedy. She won a César Award for best screenplay (which means the script she wrote) for this movie and was also nominated for best director. The movie itself was nominated for best film.
Other movies where she was nominated for a César Award for best actress include Too Beautiful for You (1989), Not Everybody's Lucky Enough to Have Communist Parents (1993), and That Woman (2003).
Recent Years: 2000s to Present
Since the 1990s, Josiane Balasko has continued to be very busy, acting in many different kinds of films. In 2006, she reunited with the cast of Le Splendid for another Bronzés film, Bronzés 3: Amis pour La Vie.
In 2018, Josiane Balasko even recorded a song with the rapper Mac Tyer for his album. In February 2019, she received the Crystal Comedy Award at a film festival in Belgium, celebrating her amazing career in comedy.
Josiane Balasko's Family Life
Josiane Balasko has two children. Her daughter, Marilou Berry, born in 1983, is also a well-known actress. She also has an adopted son named Rudy Berry, born in 1988. In 2003, Josiane married American actor George Aguilar, whom she met while working on a movie in 1999.
Movies and Shows (Filmography)
As an Actress
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1973 | The Year 01 | ||
1976 | The Tenant | Viviane | |
An Unusual Girl | Simone | ||
1977 | Pardon Mon Affaire, Too! | Josy | |
This Sweet Sickness | Nadine | ||
Animal | Supermarket Girl | ||
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo | Uncredited | ||
Monsieur Papa | |||
1978 | French Fried Vacation | Nathalie Morin | |
The Little Wheedlers | Corinne | ||
Pauline et l'Ordinateur | Pauline | ||
Si vous n'aimez pas ça, n'en dégoûtez pas les autres | A spectator | ||
Like a Turtle on Its Back | |||
1979 | French Fried Vacation 2 | Nathalie Morin | |
Heroes Are Not Wet Behind the Ears | A client | ||
1980 | Les Quatre Cents Coups de Virginie | Emma-Ammé | TV Mini-Series |
1981 | Men Prefer Fat Girls | Lydie Langlois | |
Le Maître d'école | Mrs. Lajoie | ||
Hotel America | Colette | ||
Clara et les Chics Types | Louise | ||
1982 | Santa Claus Is a Stinker | Madame Musquin | |
1983 | Signes extérieurs de richesse | Béatrice Flamand | |
Gramps Is in the Resistance | The pharmacist | ||
1984 | P'tit Con | Rolande | |
La smala | Simone | ||
The Vengeance of the Winged Serpent | Jackie | ||
1985 | All Mixed Up | Anita | |
Slices of Life | Madame Dupuis | ||
1986 | Nuit d'ivresse | Frède | |
The Joint Brothers | Aline | ||
1987 | Lady Cops | Insp. Mireille Molineux | |
1988 | Without Fear or Blame | Handmaid | |
Une nuit à l'Assemblée Nationale | The journalist | ||
1989 | Too Beautiful for You | Colette Chevassu | |
1991 | My Life Is Hell | Leah Lemonier | |
The Professional Secrets of Dr. Apfelgluck | The scientist | ||
1993 | Not Everybody's Lucky Enough to Have Communist Parents | Irène | |
Shadow of a Doubt | Sophia | ||
1994 | Dead Tired | Herself | |
1995 | French Twist | Marijo | |
1997 | Didier | Madame Massart | |
Arlette | Arlette Bathiat | ||
1998 | Un grand cri d'amour | Gigi Ortega | |
1999 | The Frenchman's Son | Suzanne | |
2000 | The Libertine | Baroness Holbach | |
Actors | André Dussollier 2 | ||
Chicken Run | Bernadette | French Voice | |
2001 | A Crime in Paradise | Lucienne Braconnier | |
Absolutely Fabulous | Edith "Eddie" Mousson | ||
2002 | The Race | Madame Jo | |
2003 | That Woman | Michèle Varin | |
2004 | Madame Édouard | Nina Tchitchi | |
2005 | The Ex-Wife of My Life | Marie-Pierre Sarrazin | |
It's Our Life! | Blanche Delhomme | ||
I Saw Ben Barka Get Killed | Marguerite Duras | ||
2006 | French Fried Vacation 3 | Nathalie Morin | |
David Nolande | Sofia | TV series (1 Episode) | |
2007 | The Red Inn | Rose Martin | |
The Key | Michèle Varin | ||
2008 | A French ... | Irène | |
Ruby Blue | Stéphanie | ||
A Day at the Museum | Mother in Chanel | ||
Françoise Dolto, le désir de vivre | Françoise Dolto | TV movie | |
2009 | The Hedgehog | Renée Michel | |
Park Benches | Solange Renivelle | ||
Neuilly Yo Mama! | School's director | ||
2010 | Holiday | Christiane Mercier | |
2011 | A Happy Event | Claire | |
Beur sur la ville | Mamie Nova | ||
2012 | Sport de filles | Joséphine de Silène | |
Maman | Paulette Mine | ||
Mes héros | Olga | ||
2013 | Demi-soeur | Antoinette Novack | |
2014 | Aunt Hilda! | Dolorès | |
Les Gazelles | Brigitte | ||
The law of Barbara | Barbara Malo | TV Mini-Series | |
2015 | The Roommates Party | Alexandra Leclère | |
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir | Josiane / Sarah | TV series (1 Episode) | |
2016 | Back to Mom's | Jacqueline Mazerin | |
Arrête ton cinéma | Brigitte | ||
Joséphine, Pregnant & Fabulous | Josephine's mother | ||
Par tous les seins | Voice | Short | |
2017 | Let the Sunshine In | Maxime | |
The New Adventures of Cinderella | Josépha | ||
2018 | Bécassine | Mademoiselle Châtaigne | |
Volontaire | Muriel Baer | ||
J'ai perdu Albert | Simone Le Couidec | ||
Neuilly sa mère, sa mère ! | Madame Bachelot | ||
2019 | All Inclusive | Lulu | |
Les envoûtés | Leonora Evesco | ||
Beaux-parents | Coline Rossi | ||
15 Minutes of War | Michèle Sampieri | ||
By the Grace of God | Irène Thomassin | ||
Vous êtes jeunes vous êtes beaux | Mona | ||
Le Bazar de la Charité | Madame Huchon | TV Mini-Series | |
2020 | L'esprit de famille | Marguerite | |
La pièce rapportée | Adélaïde Château-Têtard | ||
2021 | Tralala | Lili Rivière | |
C'est la vie | Dominique | ||
Mes très chers enfants | Chantal Blanc | ||
Un tour chez ma fille... | Jacqueline Mazerin | ||
2023 | Des mains en or | Martha | |
2024 | Captives | Bobotte | |
When Fall Is Coming ![]() |
Marie-Claude |
As a Filmmaker (Director)
Year | Title |
---|---|
1985 | Sac de noeuds |
1987 | Les keufs |
1991 | My Life Is Hell |
1995 | French Twist |
1998 | Un grand cri d'amour |
2005 | L'Ex-femme de ma vie |
2008 | Cliente |
2013 | Demi-soeur |
Top Movies by Box Office in France
Here are some of the movies starring or featuring Josiane Balasko that sold more than one million tickets in France:
Films | Year | France (tickets sold) | |
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1 | Les Bronzés 3: Amis pour la vie | 2006 | 10,355,930 |
2 | Papy fait de la résistance | 1983 | 4,104,082 |
3 | French Twist | 1995 | 3,990,094 |
4 | Animal | 1977 | 3,157,789 |
5 | Le Maître d'école | 1981 | 3,015,596 |
6 | Didier | 1997 | 2,902,960 |
7 | La vengeance du serpent à plumes | 1984 | 2,663,303 |
8 | Neuilly sa mère! | 2009 | 2,517,140 |
9 | Les Bronzés | 1978 | 2,308,644 |
10 | Back to Mom's | 2016 | 2,198,341 |
11 | Les Frères Pétard | 1986 | 2,179,370 |
12 | A Crime in Paradise | 2001 | 2,137,829 |
13 | Pardon Mon Affaire, Too! | 1977 | 2,080,789 |
14 | Too Beautiful for You | 1989 | 2,031,131 |
15 | Grosse fatigue | 1994 | 2,015,230 |
16 | Les hommes préfèrent les grosses | 1981 | 1,931,038 |
17 | Le Père Noël est une ordure | 1982 | 1,582,732 |
18 | Les Bronzés font du ski | 1979 | 1,535,781 |
19 | The Race | 2002 | 1,456,267 |
20 | Nuit d'ivresse | 1986 | 1,381,464 |
21 | Absolument fabuleux | 2001 | 1,370,394 |
22 | My Life Is Hell | 1991 | 1,170,523 |
23 | The Roommates Party | 2015 | 1,169,659 |
24 | Neuilly sa mère, sa mère! | 2018 | 1,144,597 |
25 | Signes extérieurs de richesse | 1983 | 1,074,802 |
26 | Les Keufs | 1987 | 1,071,467 |
Theater Performances
As an Actress in Plays
Year | Title | Author | Director |
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1970 | La pipelette ne pipa pas | Josiane Balasko | Josiane Balasko |
1971-74 | Quand j'srai grande, j'srai paranoïaque | Josiane Balasko | Vera Gregh |
1972-74 | Jeanne l'ébouriffée | Catherine Dasté | Catherine Dasté |
1975 | Silence là-dedans | Josiane Balasko | Josiane Balasko |
1976 | Le Pot de terre contre le pot de vin | Le Splendid | Le Splendid |
1976-77 | Ginette Lacaze | Coluche | Coluche |
Amour, coquillages et crustacés | Le Splendid | Le Splendid | |
1978-80 | Bunny's bar | Josiane Balasko | Josiane Balasko |
1979-80 | Le Père Noël est une ordure | Le Splendid | Le Splendid |
1985–86 | Nuit d'ivresse | Josiane Balasko | Josiane Balasko |
1988-89 | L'Ex-femme de ma vie | Josiane Balasko | Josiane Balasko |
1992-94 | Shirley Valentine | Willy Russell | Josiane Balasko |
1995–97 | Un grand cri d'amour | Josiane Balasko | Josiane Balasko |
2005-07 | Dernier rappel | Josiane Balasko | Josiane Balasko |
2010–12 | La nuit sera chaude | Josiane Balasko | Josiane Balasko |
2014–15 | Un grand moment de solitude | Josiane Balasko | Josiane Balasko |
2016–18 | The Woman Destroyed | Simone de Beauvoir | Hélène Fillières |
2021-24 | Un chalet à Gstaad | Josiane Balasko | Josiane Balasko |
Books Written by Josiane Balasko
Josiane Balasko is also a talented writer! Here are some of the books she has written:
- 2004 : Cliente - This book was later made into a movie in 2008, which Josiane herself directed and starred in.
- 2006 : Parano express
- 2011 : La nuit sera chaude - This book was later turned into a play that was performed from 2011 to 2012.
- 2019 : Jamaiplu
Awards and Nominations
Josiane Balasko has received many awards and nominations for her work in film. The César Award is France's national film award, similar to the Academy Awards (Oscars) in the United States.
Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
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1990 | César Award for Best Actress | Too Beautiful for You | Nominated |
1994 | César Award for Best Actress | Not Everybody's Lucky Enough to Have Communist Parents | Nominated |
1996 | César Award for Best Writing | French Twist | Won |
César Award for Best Film | Nominated | ||
César Award for Best Director | Nominated | ||
GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Limited Release | Nominated | ||
Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | ||
Lumières Award for Best Screenplay | Won | ||
Palm Springs International Film Festival - Best Foreign Language Film | Won | ||
2004 | César Award for Best Actress | That Woman | Nominated |
2010 | Women Film Critics Circle - Courage in Acting Award | The Hedgehog | Nominated |
2020 | César Award for Best Supporting Actress | By the Grace of God | Nominated |
See also
In Spanish: Josiane Balasko para niños
- List of female film and television directors
- List of LGBT-related films directed by women